On this day 107 years ago, Eddie Collins hit the only grand slam of his career, in a win at the Yankees. | (Photo by TPLP/Getty Images)
1919 With the score tied, 1-1, deep into a game at the Polo Grounds facing the Yankees, Eddie Collins belted an inside-the-park grand slam that rolled into the very deep reaches of right-center field. Eddie Cicotte completed the win, improving to 10-1 on the season. The White Sox went three games up in the American League race, at 25-11.
Given that he hit just four homers in his career before 1910, when complete records became available, this was the only grand slam of Collins’ 47-homer career.
1923 While long road trips were not uncommon in the days of train travel and fewer teams, the White Sox set a franchise mark that remains today in embarking on a monthlong road trip. The Pale Hose visited all seven American League clubs on the journey, which lasted 27 games and a full month — not returning home until a July 7 doubleheader. Strangely enough, the long trip did wonders for the club, as the White Sox went 18-9 and improved from last in the league (eighth) at 15-24, 13 games out to third place, at 33-33.
Ultimately the club faltered and fell back to seventh place at a 69-85-2 record by season’s end. The culprit? That awful home cooking! (For the season, the White Sox were 39-40 on the road and 30-45 at home!)
1935 White Sox rookie pitcher John Whitehead saw his eight-game winning streak to start his MLB career snapped, losing to the St. Louis Browns, 2-0. Whitehead would finish 13-13 in his rookie campaign, with 18 complete games and 4.9 WAR, finishing 19th in AL MVP voting.
“Silent John” amassed in impressive 11.6 WAR in 127 games over four-plus seasons on the South Side. Ironically enough, he was dealt to the Browns during the 1939 season.
1960 White Sox pitchers Russ Kemmerer and Frank Baumann both fired shutouts in beating the Kansas City Athletics in a doubleheader. The Sox won both games by the same score: 2-0. The A’s combined for only 10 hits on the Sunday afternoon.
1967 Eddie Stanky did it again. The White Sox manager let loose a verbal assault on Red Sox All-Star Carl Yastrzemski. Before a three-game set in Comiskey Park, Stanky was quoted as saying, “He may be an All-Star from the neck down, but in my book he’s a moody ballplayer … and I don’t like moody ballplayers.”
Red Sox fans were incensed, and let Stanky and the Sox have an earful, as well as throwing tomatoes at him whenever he went to the mound when the Sox went to Boston the following week.
2022 With a ground-rule double to drive in the first two runs of a 6-5 win over Tampa Bay in a game the White Sox would never trail, Jake Burger recorded the game-winning RBI in a fourth straight White Sox win — a record that dates back to at least 1974.
Burger’s streak started with a three-run homer on May 25 vs. Boston, the only runs needed for a 3-1 win. Next was a 12th-inning single that won it against the Cubs on May 29. Then came a two-run shot in the eighth inning of a 2-1 game vs. the Rays on June 4, which the White Sox held on to win, 3-2.
You might note the wide range of dates, indeed during this 10-game stretch that Burger established his clutch mark the White Sox went 4-6. This win brought the club to 25-27, in its seemingly endless quest to get past the .500 mark. It would end up exactly there, at 81-81 in the disappointing spin into another rebuild — one that seems like it will last the rest of the 2020s.
RALEIGH, N.C. — The status of Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb moving forward in the Stanley Cup Final is unclear after he took a puck to the face in Game 2.
Coach John Tortorella had no update on McNabb other than to confirm the 35-year-old was traveling home with the team. Game 3 is in Las Vegas.
McNabb left Game 2 after taking an 87.3 mph slap shot from Nikolaj Ehlers square in the face just past the midway point of the first period. McNabb dropped his stick, went down to the ice and grabbed his nose as he skated immediately off and down the tunnel.
“It’s a scary play,” forward Brett Howden said. ”You never want to see that. Just hope he’s doing all right.”
Vegas went the rest of the way with just five defensemen. McNabb’s exit had a domino effect that led those guys to playing more minutes than usual, and in particular Jeremy Lauzon was on the ice for all four Carolina goals, with one shot banking in off him, another partially the result of him losing a one-on-one battle with William Carrier and Seth Jarvis’ overtime winner going past him.
“You lose a guy like Nabber who logs heavy minutes, such a good teammate, plays the game so hard, it’s tough,” captain Mark Stone said. “They battled as hard as they could.”
McNabb was coming off the first three-assist performance of his NHL career in Game 1. He is one of three original Golden Knights players who have been around for the franchise’s entire nine-year existence and are in the final for a third time.
“He’s a vital part of this team,” said center William Karlsson, who also has been around since the beginning. “He’s been here for a long time and has been vital every year. I think he is extremely good defensively, helps us out in PK situations and stuff like that. Of course, tough to not have him for the remainder of that game.”
The Golden Knights had their optimum, healthy lineup back for the series opener when Lauzon returned from his puck-to-the-head injury that had sidelined him since the second round. That did not last long.
Either Ben Hutton, a left-handed shooter, or Kaedan Korczak, who was playing in place of Lauzon, figures to play in Game 3 if McNabb is unavailable.
Jorge Polanco is going to need a bit longer before re-joining the Mets.
The New York Post's Mike Puma reports that despite the possibility that Polanco could return from his rehab assignment for Friday's series opener against the Padres in San Diego, the veteran will remain in Syracuse.
The 32-year-old has struggled in his brief stint in Triple-A. Polanco is hitless with one walk in two games in Syracuse after going 2-for-5 with a home run in three games in Double-A Binghamton.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said earlier in the week that the organization would have conversations with Polanco regarding his availability for the weekend.
"We got to talk to the player, how he's feeling, and all that. And he's got to get cleared from the medical staff as well," Mendoza said. "It could be in play that he's active on Friday. But again, if he needs more at-bats, and it's not so much like how he's feeling physically, I think there's a combination of a lot of things there."
Polanco's first year in Flushing has been marred by injuries. Polanco played through Achilles bursitis, which relegated him to the DH role, before landing on the IL with a right wrist contusion in mid-April. Mendoza said that the wrist contusion is now a non-issue, but that Polanco will have to play through his Achilles bursitis. That means he'll be mostly a DH when he returns, although the Mets expect him to be available at first base when needed.
Before he landed on the IL, Polanco struggled at the plate. In 14 games, Polanco hit .179 (10-for-56) with one home run and three doubles to go along with two RBI.
Once the Mets wrap up their weekend series against the Padres, they return home for a three-game set with the Cardinals starting Tuesday.
A SERIES STORY: The Cubs have lost seven and split one of their last eight series. They were 2-6 in the first games of those series and have lost the last five. They are 8-12 in all first games but 5-5 at home, 7-4 in first games after having won the last game of the previous series and 3-3 at home after having won the finale of the previous series. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
OUTHITTING THE OTHER GUY: After making only four hits through eight innings last night, the Cubs made seven in the ninth to outhit the Athletics, 11-7. The Cubs are a remarkable 27-2 when they have finished with more hits. The only losses were at home to the Pirates, 2-0, on April 10, and at St. Louis, 6-5, last Friday. They are 2-1 when they and their opponent have had the same number of hits and 4-27 when they have given up more than they have made. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
RISPy BUSINESS: The Cubs made six hits last night with runners in scoring position — five of them in the ninth inning — to match their season high, accomplished four times before. Their 10 at bats last night were their fewest in any of the games. They were had 12 vs. the Mets on April 17, 14 vs. the White Sox on May 15, 16 vs. the Angels on April 1 and 18 vs. the Phillies on April 14. The Cubs won all five games. They are 6-0 with five hits with RISP and 3-2 with four, for a total of 14-2 with at least four. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
TODAY IN CUBS HISTORY: Carlos Zambrano and Will Ohman combined on a one-hit shutout of the Astros in Houston, the only hit a one-out single by Preston Wilson in the eighth. Zambrano also hit a three-run homer as the Cubs won 8-0. It happened 20 years ago today, Monday, June 5, 2006.
— MLB Daily Lineups (@DailyMLBLineups) June 5, 2026
Edward Cabrera, RHP vs. Robbie Ray, LHP
Edward Cabrera’s return from the IL, where he sat out two weeks with a blister, comes at a time when the Cubs really need a solid outing from a starting pitcher.
So all we can do is hope the blister issue is behind him and he can do that.
Last year against the Giants, June 25, 2025 in San Francisco, he threw 5.1 innings, allowed three hits and two runs, and struck out six. I think we’d take that today.
Robbie Ray is 34 and will be a free agent at season’s end. As such, he’s been mentioned as someone the Cubs might have trade interest in.
His year, though, hasn’t been very good. He hasn’t gone more than five innings in any of his last five starts and in one of them (May 18 vs. the D-backs) he allowed 10 runs and two homers. (Insert obligatory “He’d fit right in with this staff with the homers” joke here.)
Ray has been particularly bad away from San Francisco (6.23 ERA in six road starts, nine HR in 30.1 innings, 2.83 ERA in six home starts, four HR in 32.1 innings), so a) the Cubs might be able to hit him and b) maybe don’t trade for him?
Please visit our SB Nation Giants site McCovey Chronicles. If you do go there to interact with Giants fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.
The 2026 game discussion procedure has been changed, so please take note.
You’ll find the game preview, like this one, posted separately on the front page two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).
At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page, titled “Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of week/date) game threads.” It will contain every post related to that particular game.
The Live! (formerly “First Pitch”) thread will still post at five minutes to game time. It will also post to the front page. That will be the only live game discussion thread. After the game, the recap and Heroes and Goats will also live on the front page as separate posts.
You will also be able to find the preview, Live! thread, recap and Heroes and Goats in this section link. The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.
RALEIGH, N.C. — A failed coach’s challenge by John Tortorella was a momentum-changing moment in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final.
His Vegas Golden Knights appeared to score with five minutes left in regulation, but referee Jean Hebert waved it off immediately, citing goaltender interference. Hebert announced that he and the other on-ice officials thought Ivan Barbashev pushed Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen to knock the puck into the net.
Tortorella after some deliberation decided to challenge the play, and it did not take long for officials and the on-site NHL situation room to stick with the call on the ice of no goal. The Hurricanes scored on the ensuing power play 25 seconds later and went on to win 4-3 in overtime to tie the series.
“I saw a loose puck in front of Freddie,” Tortorella said. “Our player stabbed it, didn’t move the goalie and it goes through him into the other side. I’d challenge it 10 out of 10 times.”
It was purely a video review of goalie interference and had nothing to do with whether the whistle was blown before the puck crossed the goal line.
“The ruling on the play was goaltender interference,” executive vice president and director of officiating Stephen Walkom told a pool reporter. “He waved it (off) immediately. He believed that it was under the goalie, and the Vegas player went after the puck and interfered with the goalie and his ability to freeze the puck and waived it off immediately.”
Mark Jankowski just had tied it for the Hurricanes a few shifts earlier after Logan Stankoven started the comeback from down 2-0. On the opposing bench, Carolina players and coach Rod Brind’Amour were not sure how the review was going to go.
“Obviously, you’re hoping for the best,” center Sebsastian Aho said. “You can’t really control it. I didn’t have a really good view of it, so I had no clue. So, I was just hoping for the best.”
Brind’Amour decided not to challenge for goalie interference in Game 1 because there were too many variables at play. His thinking turned out to be right again.
“It happened to us in I guess the first game: When it’s called a goal or no goal on the ice, it better be 100% to challenge it,” Brind’Amour said. “That’s the rule we go by. So, they called no goal on the ice, so that’s kind of how I think it worked out. I don’t know. I don’t know what the explanation is. It looked like he had it covered, and then all of a sudden it was in the net. I don’t know. I haven’t really looked at it. I was just happy that it went our way.”
Andersen went full extension to make a paddle save to deny Barbashev on the initial shot. A scrum ensued around the crease with players diving at the puck hoping to knock it in or keep it out.
“To me, it felt like a no goal,” Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal said. “Obviously, I’m on the other side, but I’m sure they have a different opinion. My gut was like, ‘Man, there’s no way.’ What an incredible effort my Freddie just staying with that one and finding a way to get a piece of that. I was flopping everywhere. I didn’t know what was going on. Freddy just stuck with it. The guy’s an absolute animal. That was a pretty crazy play and obviously a game-changer for us.”
The punishment for a failed coach’s challenge is a two-minute minor penalty. Vegas was 4 for 4 on the penalty kill against Carolina’s power play to that point in the series.
“I’m not sure how they go about their thought process, Brind’Amour said. “They’ve obviously killed all the penalties. That’s a big one.”
Staal made sure the Golden Knights didn’t kill this one, tipping defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere’s point shot in for just the Hurricanes’ eighth power play goal of the playoffs. Seth Jarvis made it nine when he scored in overtime, though it may have never gotten to that point had Tortorella not challenged.
“You’d like to make them pay every time,” Aho said. “It’s a big swing because the other option is going down a goal. But other than that, every time you get a power play, you’re trying to score. So, it’s not that different, but obviously it was a big swing.”
The NHL scouting combine is reaching the main portion of the event, with the intense physical testing coming up this weekend. It's been an important week for the Toronto Maple Leafs, particularly considering they have the first overall pick at this year's draft, which is coming up on June 26 and 27.
The results of the scouting combine don't always tell the story of whether a player will become a star in the NHL or not, but it's still interesting to see who might be the strongest or most agile prospects in the draft class.
With that, here's a look at a brief history of current Maple Leafs at the NHL combine in previous years.
Nick Robertson - Pull Ups
At the 2019 NHL combine, Maple Leafs left winger Nick Robertson finished among the best performers at the pull-up test.
This event seems to favor athletes who are light, and the 5-foot-9 Robertson is certainly that. For further reference, Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson completed 18 pull-ups in 2022, the second most ever.
In that 2019 draft, the Maple Leafs selected Robertson in the second round with the 53rd overall pick.
Defenseman Jake McCabe wasn't drafted by the Maple Leafs, but has been with Toronto for the past four seasons.
Nonetheless, he had a great showing in the horizontal jump event when he was eligible to be drafted in 2012. Not only is he tied for the 11th-best jump at 119 inches, but that was also the best score of his entire draft class.
The Buffalo Sabres went on to select McCabe in the second round of the 2012 draft with the 44th pick.
Easton Cowan and William Nylander, both first-round picks by the Maple Leafs, performed well in the pro agility test.
Nylander, a part of the 2014 combine and draft class, marked a 4.28-second time in this event. That held up as the second-best time of his class, and tied for 15th on the all-time board.
The right winger ended up getting selected eighth overall by Toronto in 2014 and has since emerged as an NHL star.
As for Cowan, his test was off the charts as he holds the all-time record for the pro agility event. He completed the drill in 4.07 seconds.
Cowan was a surprise pick by the Maple Leafs when he was drafted 28th overall in 2023, but maybe this performance on this particular drill shed some light on him.
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CLEVELAND, OHIO - MAY 26: Starting pitcher Cade Cavalli #24 of the Washington Nationals reacts after striking out the side to end the fourth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on May 26, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
As Cade Cavalli put it, when you have 32 outings in a season, you are not going to have your best stuff every time. The key to being a good starting pitcher in this league is to manage the outing when you do not have your A game. This is something Cavalli is learning, and we are already seeing improvements.
Back in Mid-April, Cavalli had an outing where he could not get out of the second inning against the Pirates. The Nats big right hander just totally lost the zone and could not re-find it. It seemed like Cavalli was destined for a similar outing against the Marlins. He could not find the zone in the first inning, walking three batters, including one with the bases loaded.
However, we got to see the maturation process from Cavalli. He turned his outing around, giving the Nats five solid innings, only allowing two runs. Cavalli also did not walk a batter after that first inning. He told me that he “wanted to make the hitters swing the bat”. With Cavalli’s stuff, good things tend to happen when he is around the zone.
By the third inning, Cavalli really found his good stuff and started to bully the Marlins hitters. There was a neat overlay that showed Cavalli’s fastball and his curveball. It gave you a cool visual of just how nasty his stuff is. Just when you need to gear up for a 98 MPH fastball, he drops in a hammer of a curveball.
One theme that Cavalli kept emphasizing is that he is trying to learn everyday. Cavalli turns 28 in August, and has been in the Nats organization for a long time, but he is still an inexperienced pitcher. He was a two-way player for much of his college career and then lost a lot of reps due to his slow Tommy John recovery. Despite debuting in 2022, Cavalli has only made 24 career starts.
As an inexperienced member of this staff, Cavalli said he has learned a lot from veterans like Zack Littell and Miles Mikolas. He told me that seeing the routines of these older pitchers is helpful, saying “It is not necessarily having conversations with them, it is just being a part of their day. Seeing how they prepare for starts and treat their bodies”. For me, this emphasizes the importance of having veterans around. They don’t even need to be vocal leaders, just having young guys see what it takes to be in this game for a long time matters.
It is not like those veterans are not talking either. Cavalli told me that the starters like to sit in the dugout during games, and just talk about baseball. They discuss “little nuances of the game” as he put it. Whether that is pitch location, what pitch to throw in a specific count, or when to pick off.
Cavalli was named the Opening Day starter in Spring Training, but now it feels like he is truly settling into that role of being a frontline starter. In his last 7 starts, Cavalli has a 3.38 ERA with 46 strikeouts in 40 innings. For me, the inning pitched number is what truly stands out. At the beginning of the season, Cavalli was struggling to get through five innings. However, in these 7 starts, he is averaging 5.7 innings per outing.
Getting deeper into games is what will make Cavalli a top of the rotation starter. Hopefully, he can get that average to 6 innings as he enters his prime. I think Cavalli has the ability to go deep into games, but he needs to be more efficient. He has the ability to hold his velocity, but he has a tendency to have one really long inning.
When you watch Cavalli, you always get the sense that there is more in the tank. The combination of his fastball and curveball is a special foundation. His heater has been sitting at 97 MPH since the start of May, and the curveball is one of the best in the sport. Cavalli could be one of those pitchers who peaks in their early to mid 30’s.
“There’s something more in the tank there.”
Despite Cade Cavalli’s production this season, the Nationals seem to believe he has yet to unlock his full potential. pic.twitter.com/sP8u5snFAm
Starting pitchers peaking in their 30’s is not too uncommon, especially for guys who do not have a lot of mileage on their arms. Zack Wheeler and Max Scherzer are two good examples of pitchers who truly hit their peak after 30. Cavalli is not going to be that caliber of arm, but I think the same idea applies for him. Due to his injuries and the fact he was not a full time pitcher in college, there are not a whole lot of innings in that arm, which is a good thing.
Cavalli also has some clear areas where he can improve as well. His command and control can both be hit or miss at times. He has outings where he is pounding the zone, but he can lose it very quickly. As he gets more experienced, Cavalli will learn how to settle in. We are seeing growth in that area, as shown by his last start.
Another area that Cavalli could explore is his changeup. I think Cavalli has the bones of a great changeup. However, he only uses it 9% of the time, and it feels like he does not trust it enough. When that pitch is working, it can be a devastating offering, especially to lefties. It has so much movement, and I think it could unlock a new element of his game.
While Cavalli is doing a good job keeping the ball in the yard, he has allowed a lot of hits this year. A pitcher with his stuff should not be allowing a .269 average against. His WHIP of 1.42 is also simply too high for a pitcher of his caliber. A part of that high WHIP is the 10 batters he has hit, most of them coming on breaking balls that hit batters in the foot.
There is so much for Cade Cavalli to learn and improve, yet he is already a good starting pitcher. He has a 3.62 ERA, a 3.00 FIP and a 3.76 xFIP. Imagine what Cavalli could be if he irons out some of the warts in his profile. I am not sure he has the command to be a true ace, but I think he has the ability to be a rock solid number two starter. Even in his current form, Cavalli is a number 3 starter in a good rotation, and he is just settling in right now. The sky remains the limit for the Nats big righty.
Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb was hit by the puck during Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday in Raleigh, N.C. (Karl B DeBlaker / Associated Press)
Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb was forced to leave Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final on Thursday after taking a puck to his face on a slap shot midway through the first period.
The 14-year veteran, who played for the Kings from 2014-2017, did not return to the game. ESPN is reporting that McNabb was taken from Lenovo Center in Raleigh, N.C., to a hospital for evaluation.
Vegas coach John Tortorella did not have an update on McNabb’s status after his team’s 4-3 overtime loss to the Carolina Huricanes, and the Golden Knights had not provided one as of early Friday morning.
McNabb was defending in front of the net with 9:08 remaining in the first period when a blistering shot by Carolina winger Nikolaj Ehlers hit him in the facial area. Slow-motion replays show the puck may have struck the protective visor on McNabb’s helmet near his eyes.
After crumpling to the ice, McNabb immediately climbed to his feet, skated off the playing area and headed down the tunnel while holding a hand over his nose and mouth.
“It’s a scary play,” Vegas forward Brett Howden said after the game. ”You never want to see that. Just hope he’s doing all right. We haven’t seen him yet but hope he’s doing OK.”
Knights defenseman Noah Hanifin said: “Any time you see that happen to a teammate, especially to a guy like Nabber who is a huge part of this team, a leader, it’s tough. It’s hard to see that happen to any guy on the ice. We’re just hoping for the best for him.”
Born in Davidson, Canada, McNabb was selected by the Buffalo Sabres in the third round of the 2009 entry draft. He played in 37 games for the Sabres and was acquired by the Kings on March 5, 2014. Los Angeles also received Jonathan Parker and a pair of draft picks in exchange for Hudson Fasching and Nic Deslauriers.
McNabb had six goals and 36 assists in three seasons with the Kings before being selected by Vegas in the 2017 expansion draft. This is his third Stanley Cup Final with the Golden Knights, who won the championship in 2023.
In Vegas’ 5-4 Game 1 victory against Carolina on Tuesday, McNabb had three assists for the first time in his career. Ben Hutton and Kaedan Korczak are possible options to take McNabb’s spot if he can’t play in Saturday’s Game 3 in Las Vegas.
We've got a full slate in front of us, and there are plenty of enticing hitter spots to attack. A few names immediately jumped off the page while digging through today's matchups, and I keep finding myself drawn back to the same trio for our MLB player props.
Jac Caglianone, James Wood, and Alec Burleson all find themselves in favorable spots against pitchers allowing plenty of hard contact and elevated batted balls.
If things break right, these are the types of matchups that can turn into a very profitable evening as we get into the top MLB picks for Friday, June 5.
Best MLB player props today
Player
Pick
Odds
Jac Caglianone
Over 1.5 Hits, Runs, RBI
+104
James Wood
Over 1.5 Total Bases
-105
Alec Burleson
Over 1.5 Total Bases
-104
Jac Caglianone Over 1.5 Hits, Runs, RBI (+104)
There is a first time for everything, and this will be the first time I have ever backed future Kansas City Royals star slugger Jac Caglianone.
The former highly touted prospect finds himself in a great spot against Minnesota Twins right-hander Zebby Matthews, who owns some of the worst pitcher ratings in Batters Box. Matthews also carries poorly rated marks in matchup wOBA, ISO, hard contact allowed, and ground ball rate. We love pitchers who allow plenty of hard contact and elevated balls.
Matthews has struggled against left-handed hitters this season. Over the last 60 batters faced, lefties have generated a 61.3% elevation rate and 9.7% barrel rate against him, while posting a .451 xSLG and .468 wOBA.
Caglianone owns 70% arsenal coverage against Matthews' entire pitch mix. On top of that, over his last 60 plate appearances against right-handed pitching, he has produced an 80.6% hard-hit rate, a 16.7% barrel rate, and nearly a 40% line-drive rate. During that stretch, his batting average is hovering around .280, but if he continues making this much hard contact, the rest of his numbers should begin to explode.
If you are unable to find his hits, runs, and RBI prop at plus money, I would look toward the over 1.5 total bases. I also think his home run prop is worth a sprinkle. The kid feels overdue for a massive breakout performance at the plate.
Time: 8:15 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Apple TV
James Wood Over 1.5 Total Bases (-105)
Yes, we are all over James Wood once again. Before you get sick of seeing some of my favorite names, let me explain why the Washington Nationals star is due for another big outing.
The big fella draws Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Merrill Kelly, who brings a poorly rated matchup ISO to the table this evening. On top of that, Kelly has been getting hammered by left-handed hitters at home. He owns just a 17.1% ground-ball rate against lefties, meaning they're elevating the baseball 82.8% of the time, while they are also making 57.1% hard contact.
Over his last 30 at-bats against right-handed pitching, Wood sports a .463 wOBA and 203 wRC+, while producing 64.3% hard contact and a 28.6% barrel rate. Not to mention, the Nationals star owns the third-highest arsenal coverage among elite-rated hitters tonight. Wood is crushing nearly 87% of Kelly's pitch mix.
Snagging the Nationals' leadoff hitter to record a stolen base at nearly plus money always feels like a gift. That said, I would not pay too much juice for it. Play this up
Time: 9:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: ARID, NATS
Alec Burleson Over 1.5 Total Bases (-104)
Another hitter I found extremely hard to pass up tonight is Alec Burleson, especially when you look at how much hard contact and elevation Cincinnati Reds starter Brady Singer is allowing. We are all over the St. Louis Cardinals stud this evening.
Singer has not been able to find success against left-handed hitters this season, allowing a 45% hard-hit rate, 13.8% barrel rate, and nearly a 60% elevation rate. Those lefties own a .292 xBA, .531 xSLG, and .380 xwOBA against him. If we zoom in even further, the last 60 left-handed batters he's faced have posted a .406 xBA, .851 xSLG, and .428 xwOBA.
The Cardinals first baseman carries the only elite rating in this matchup over on Batters-Box, boasting an 85.6% arsenal coverage score against Singer's pitch mix. His overall and expected numbers by pitch type are marvelous. Over his last 90 at-bats against right-handed pitching, Burleson owns a .524 SLG while making hard contact at a rate north of 50%.
With how well Burleson matches up against Singer's offerings, coupled with the Reds right-hander allowing lefties to hit above .360 with a .649 SLG on the road, I have to be all over this prop.
As always, sprinkle the home run. I would play this prop up to -110. If you'd rather avoid laying juice, the double and home run markets are worth a look as well.
Time: 8:15 p.m. ET
Where to watch: CARD, CINR
Colby Marchio's 2026 Transparency Record
Prop picks: 185-326-29, +1.10 units
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
"We heard our fans…Ketchup and mustard is back!" Patrick Fertitta, Vice Chairman of the Houston Rockets and Comets, said in a statement announcing the new look. "From the time my family bought the team in 2017, we've heard from countless fans about how deeply those colors are tied to their memories of Rockets basketball. We wanted to create something that celebrates the generations of fans who built Rockets basketball while inspiring the next generation of Rockets fans."
Red remains the primary color for the Rockets' look, although their third jerseys are black with red lettering. The Rockets "R" logo remains at the center of the new look, while the reimagined Dunkstronaut image blends nostalgia with innovation and is a nod to the spirit of Space City.
The Rockets are coming off a 52-win season that showed promise, with a young core starting to take steps forward, but also a disappointing first-round playoff exit to a shorthanded Lakers team. Whatever moves the Rockets make to take their next step forward with this group, they will look sharp in these new uniforms.
Frank Becerra Jr./The Journal News / USA TODAY NETWORK
If ever an NHL team could be sitting on top of the world after losing a Stanley Cup Final Game Seven in double overtime the 1949-50 Rangers were IT.
Although the Blueshirts finished under the .500 mark (28-31-11) they still qualified for a playoff berth. They faced the strong Montreal Canadiens – led by Maurice (The Rocket) Richard – in the first round and were given little chance to advance past the semi-final round.
"Our coach Lynn Patrick decided to assign defensive forward Pentti Lund to check The Rocket," said center Don (Bones) Raleigh and it was a series-turning move. The Rocket was shut down and Lund even scored a bitl"
What also helped was that future Hall of Famer, Rangers goalie Chuck (Bonnie Prince Charlie) Rayner was playing the best hockey of his career. By contrast, the Canadiens netminders, Bill Durnan and Gerry McNeil were not nearly as good.
The Rangers won the series four wins to one and then faced the league-leading Detroit Red Wings in the 1950 Stanley Cup Final. The Winged Wheelers were overwhelming favorites to sweep the New Yorkers.
It wasn't enough that the first place Red Wings finished 21 points ahead of New York but there was an even more reason to knock off the Blueshirts - the Ringlang Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus had taken over the Garden and there was no ice for the Blueshirts.
"In those days," recalled Rangers manager Frank Boucher, "Once the circus took off we had to leave. In this case the league had us playing all playoff games on the road."
Can Shohei Ohtani really win the Cy Young Award this year?
That’s the main topic of conversation on the latest episode of the Dodgers Post podcast.
On this edition, California Post baseball writers Dylan Hernandez and Jack Harris break down the Dodgers’ recent series against the Arizona Diamondbacks, including Thursday’s walk-off loss and whether there is any reason to be concerned with the bullpen.
Then, the two dive into their main debate, arguing about where Ohtani (and his 0.74 ERA) stacks up in a loaded National League Cy Young race, and whether he will accumulate enough innings to truly make a run at winning the award for the first time.
Later, the pair have a little fun, checking in on Dylan’s fortune-telling abilities, and look ahead to this weekend’s Angels series –– before making their traditional round of predictions and trivia, as always.
All that and more on this latest episode of the Dodgers Post podcast.
Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters
Scott owns a 2.63 ERA over the past 30 days despite a 3.75 SIERA and 3.88 xFIP. The right-hander is not pitching as well as the results suggest, and a correction is coming.
Meanwhile, King has benefited from some batted ball luck. Opponents have hit .247 on balls put in play the last month, noticeably below his career average of .285.
The Mets rank near the basement in BABIP, yet they’ve still hit .275 against righties when putting it in play.
I see value on the Over to -105.
Todd Cordell's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 23-17, +0.92 units
Over/Under bets: 19-19-2, -2.71 units
Mets vs Padres odds
Moneyline: Mets +110 | Padres -130
Run line: Mets +1.5 (-190) | Padres -1.5 (+160)
Over/Under: Over 7.5 (+105) | Under 7.5 (-125)
Mets vs Padres trend
New York has won only 20 of their last 50 games (-19.85 units, -30% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Mets vs. Padres.
How to watch Mets vs Padres and game info
Location
Petco Park, San Diego, CA
Date
Friday, June 5, 2026
First pitch
9:40 p.m. ET
TV
WPIX-11, Padres.TV
Mets starting pitcher
Christian Scott (1-0, 2.97 ERA)
Padres starting pitcher
Michael King (4-4, 3.18 ERA)
Mets vs Padres latest injuries
Mets vs Padres weather
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SAN ANTONIO, TX - JUNE 4: Josh Hart #3 of the New York Knicks talks to the media during a press conference during 2026 NBA Finals Practice and Media Availability on June 4, 2026 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE(Photo by Ryan Stetz/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Here’s part two of my conversation with J.R. Wilco of Pounding the Rock. He and Spurs Nation are recovering from a stunning 10-point loss in Game One of the Finals. The Knicks, led by the Villanova roomies, made the game a thriller with a 24-point turnaround. Now San Antonio must regroup and try to clean up the mistakes of their first effort.
Click the link if you missed part 1 and would like to catch up.
J.R.
After one game, we’re a lot closer to your prediction than we are mine. If San Antonio doesn’t fix the problems I’m about to address, you’re in a great position to see Wilco with your wife without having to miss a Finals game. Great performances from your team. Truly. And not a very good showing from the hometown boys, which was not at all what I was expecting. In some ways, it looked like San Antonio didn’t prepare any kind of Knicks-specific approach to the game, which seems puzzling.
So puzzling that I’m reminded of the last time I was puzzled like this: Game 1 of the 2017 playoffs’ second-round series against Houston. The Spurs didn’t cater their standard game plan to the Rockets. They came out with a plain-vanilla offense and defense and got absolutely trucked. Lost by almost 30. Do you remember Mike D’Antoni’s “three is more than two” press conference? That was after Game 1. The overwhelming narrative leading up to Game 2 was the antiquated nature of the Spurs system and how inevitable Houston’s victory was.
Then Popovich made adjustments based on what he saw after Game 1, and the Spurs won four of the next five games, with an overtime win in Game 5 that ended with Manu Ginobili’s over-the-back block of James Harden’s three-point attempt and led to a Game 6 in which Harden failed to show up in any meaningful way. (You may have experienced something like that from Harden yourself.) So San Antonio has had this kind of weird series start before, and they’ve come out smiling.
While I have no insight into the adjustments being cooked up by Mitch’s Coaching Staff (MCS?), here are the things I noticed that I would like to see addressed.
First, Victor had his first truly disappointing game of the playoffs. Some people would say that Game 5 of the WCF qualifies, but for me that was passive Wemby, and Wednesday night was … I dunno what to call it. Hyperactive Wemby? Whatever it was, it can’t happen again if SA wants to win. Since February 1, there have been only three games in which Wemby has been a minus in his minutes on the court. And two of those have come against the Knickerbockers, which is not very confidence-inducing when all of the games for the rest of the season are against the same team. Expect angry-but-composed Wemby for Game 2.
Second, in a game-on-the-line, clutch situation, your go-to play can’t be a Wemby isolation from outside the three-point line. A couple of hours before the game, I was talking with one of my writers, and I said that Wemby’s favorite play is probably freelancing. Well, if your default mode is letting him have his favorite play, that’s fine. He can have it for 43 minutes of the game. But when it comes down to the final five minutes of a nip-and-tuck Finals game, how about we run some kind of action, some kind of pet play that we like our chances with? Expect a firm left hand from Mitch in these situations going forward. Or at least expect the guys to get an earful and handle it differently next time.
Third, against a lineup without OG, the Spurs allowed Brunson and Shamet to stay on the floor without running any offense at them. That should probably not be allowed to stand. There are so many ways to get them involved in actions that it’d be silly to even start a list. Either play Shamet off the court or tire him out. Force Jalen to exert himself on his own end, and even if he’s still fresh as a daisy in crunch time, at least you’ll be scoring points along the way, which would be a far cry from posting 18 in the fourth like in G1. Expect SA to do more targeting of NY’s weaker defenders.
Fourth, more Harper, and a greater range of actions run for him during said more. What did the kid try to do in his Finals debut that he couldn’t do? I can’t think of anything realistic that could’ve been asked of a player that he didn’t deliver on. I could go on, but that’s over 600 words already, and I don’t want to try your patience.
What did you see that you liked from the first Finals game, and what concerns you?
R.R.
It was a thrilling Game One, from our vantage at least. We thought San Antonio played well enough to win, especially given how rusty the Knicks were on offense. After a promising start, we didn’t expect them to finish the first quarter with 19 points. They had played eight games in 23 days, and it showed in the halftime numbers.
Nor did we think this game would so closely resemble the NBA Cup Final, in which New York rallied from a double-digit third-quarter deficit and held the Spurs to 19 points in the fourth to win. Uncanny similarities!
I agree that the series is far from over if San Antonio makes your recommended adjustments. I was surprised at how underutilized Harper was in the second half and that Brunson wasn’t hunted more—especially when he was initially injured. Shamet’s a better defender than his reputation suggests, but admittedly one of the weaker links in the chain. Targeting him makes sense.
As for Wemby, we agree again: bombing threes late in a tight game (or freelancing, as you say) seems a suboptimal use of his talent. Keep sending that big fella to the cup! He’s more likely to get three points that way (with an and-one) and stop the clock.
Tell me, do you communicate suggestions to Mitch Johnson by text or email? For Thibs, I used to hide video messages on VHS tapes, mislabel them (randomly, e.g., “Portland vs. Pacers, Jan. 5, 1982”), and leave them on the sidewalk outside the practice facility. VHS is Thibs’ catnip.
Regrettably, Mike Brown has a restraining order against me.
We liked plenty of what we saw in this first contest. New York remains confident and resilient. It’s reassuring to know Captain Clutch still has his mystical powers. KAT was pretty sweet, too. When New York runs the Towns-Brunson pick-and-roll, it opens multiple scoring options for them. Why they don’t spam it 100 times per game baffles me. That said, the Spurs had real trouble containing Towns whenever Victor rested. Come to think of it, Wemby didn’t do much to slow him, either.
Bridges and Hart combining for 12 points wasn’t too concerning. I wrote about Josh in the postgame piece:
“By the end of the game, Josh would have three points on 1-of-5 shooting, which looks bad. But run your eye across the stat line and let the truth reveal itself: 14 rebounds, six assists, four steals, a block, and a team-high +22 in his 27 minutes. His relentless energy rescued this game from the loss column.”
New York won’t have many more off-shooting nights in the series. Wait till you see these guys really cook with gas! Not only has New York won 12 games in a row, but 11 of those were by double digits. Impressive stuff from a team that is considered the underdog.
Brunson’s shooting reminded me of 1994’s Game One. In that tilt, Patrick Ewing went 10-for-26, and in this one Brunson shot 12-of-31. Same stinky, different outcomes. Even after a janky shooting performance by Jalen, we can sing his praises. Yet again, his shots fell in the clutch.
The Knicks have so many weapons that when Brunson is cold, someone else can step into the void. You saw it in Game One. KAT carried the team through the middle of the game. Anunoby was kind of a dud through three quarters, then knocked down eight points to swing the game. Another night, Bridges will drop 20 points on eight shots. Or Shamet might go 5-of-9 from deep, or Clarkson contribute 15. Mike Brown has a lot of cool toys!
Were you surprised by the contributions of your supporting cast, namely Fox, Vassell, and Johnson? I see they combined for 19 points. Also: Champagnie loves shooting three-pointers against the Knicks, making 18-of-34 in four games against NY this season. Finally, at last, Mike Brown schemed to stop this kid, limiting him to one point post-intermission. You’ve watched more of him than I—does he just go gonzo for Knicks games, or is he a for-real gunslinger? (I could look this up on Basketball-Reference, but stats can be suspicious … and I’m falling asleep.)
J.R.
The last time I had a mode of secret communication with a Spurs coach, it was Bob Hill. And I don’t need to tell you how that turned out. Suffice it to say that there was nothing else for it but to work my way into the blogging business and lob my thoughts to the team that way.
In the game, San Antonio has a lead and loses a lead because they only score 19 in the fourth while Brunson goes off; I can’t tell whether I’m talking about Wednesday night or the NBA Cup Final. That’s far too uncannily similar, but I have a solution. We need more cans in this series ASAP! Now, I just need to figure out what a can is in this context, and we’d have something. I know! I’ll make a VHS tape and—my wife is shaking her head … apparently I don’t have a camcorder anymore. That’s unfortunate.
Instead, let’s talk about Wemby’s defense on Towns (besides a few choice words I have that I won’t share here—suffice it to say they aren’t complimentary). I’d love to see Vic never leave his defensive stance while guarding a shooter on the perimeter unless his man is already off the ground in the middle of his jump shot. It’s not that Wemby can’t block three-pointers, it’s that it’s just so rare that anyone does. In the meantime, the number of times he’s been blown by for a layup this season is measured in the dozens! I don’t see anything of value being accomplished by Vic hunting blocks so far from the basket when he gives up far more total points when his timing isn’t perfect and he jumps too soon. I’d love to see what KAT can accomplish if Wemby simply plays solid perimeter defense on him. If he still goes off, then something structurally will need to change, but I doubt that. And it seems like Victor agrees because one of his postgame quotes was about how he needed to just make normal plays.
Next to Brunson, who I will get to in a minute, I thought Hart was the MVP for New York. Relentless energy isn’t enough to explain Hart’s impact. Plus/minus isn’t enough either. He’s got that thing. The one where you know it when you see it. It jumps off the screen as you watch on TV, and it smacks you in the face when you’re viewing in person. Alex Caruso has it too. After seven games of seeing one of Those Guys in the right place at the right time with the exact play, maybe the only play, that would stop the Spurs’ score or run, San Antonio fans have run right into another! Hart is a guy you hate but would love in an instant if he was on your team, and I don’t want to say another word about it right now.
Jalen’s late hot streak cures all—you can shoot as badly as possible if you’re able to can the looks that matter. (There’s another “can.” I told you they were important!) Shooting is important too, and by the time your guys are cooking with gas, then Wemby will need to be operating at fully operational Arrow Station levels, or it’ll get ugly.
I wasn’t surprised by the inability of Fox, Vassell, and Johnson to score more. Fox will have a bad game even when he’s healthy, and his ankle is obviously still limiting him. He bounces back regularly, though. Vassell has played great in the playoffs, and while he had an off night from deep (1-6), he hit 3 of 5 from the field, dished three assists, and grabbed nine huge boards. I’m not concerned about him. Johnson’s the one that’s weird to me. He only saw eight minutes of playing time, and I didn’t see much of a reason for that. Sure, he was 1-4, but he was the lone Spur with a positive +/-. Mitch obviously saw something he didn’t like. Gotta hope that turns around.
Which brings us to Julian Champagnie, who doesn’t just like shooting against the Knicks. Julian is now a certified flamethrower, and while he had a cold spell during the season and an early lull against OKC, he’s firing on all cylinders and will need to occupy a good amount of New York’s defensive attention.
R.R.
I’m glad you ‘can’ (ouch) maintain your humor after the opening loss. Surely the Spurs will reward your confidence soon. Despite their 12-game win streak, I still doubt New York will sweep. There’s too much talent on your side of the court.
The mismatch tortured us the last time these two fought in the Finals, back in 1999. Compared to then, this is already basketball nirvana. Cynicism aside, it is pretty cool that the NBA will have a different champion for the eighth straight year.
Your comparison of Caruso to Hart is dead on. I feel the same about Caruso (and used to about Jose Alvarado): that stinker is insufferable until he’s on your team, when he becomes your favorite player. For whether that holds true for Dillon Brooks, we’d have to ask a Phoenix or Memphis fan. And I stand by my solemn vow not to root for any team that employs the services of Kelly Oubre Jr. It’s an irrational dislike, but real.
I don’t know what to make of Keldon Johnson. He must have played some great games this season to earn Sixth Man of the Year honors, but he’s underwhelmed in the small sample size I’ve witnessed. Vassell impresses me more, and I’m bracing for him to perform better in his second chance. Your comments about Wemby seem to point to the immaturity of youth. The more he hangs out with the monks, the more disciplined he’ll become, and then the league will really be screwed.
A note about Champagnie. We are spoiled to have Mike Breen and the great Walt “Clyde” Frazier as our commentators for Knicks games. Clyde is in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame twice, as a player and broadcaster, and our SB Nation site is named after one of his colorful colloquialisms. One of his most endearing qualities is his singular ability to mangle names. To hear him say “Julian Champagne-y” is one of life’s joys.
We were glad that Knicks superfans Ben Stiller and Spike Lee made it to Texas. There may still be time for me to buy a ticket, fly to San Antonio, rent a hotel room, grab a secondary-market seat, and attend Game Two. Sadly, the grand total would be cheaper than trying to get into MSG for Games Three or Four. New York has two strata of fans: the wealthy set who can afford astronomical ticket prices, and the unwashed masses who watch from home or behind barricades on the street outside MSG. I proudly represent the latter, although, admittedly, sometimes the greed at the Garden is a nagging stone in my shoe.
Along those lines . . . as a fan, how does it feel when so many at Frost Bank Center are cheering MVP! for Brunson at the free-throw line? Poor Donovan Mitchell may never recover from that particular torment.
Here’s a true, unflattering story to wrap this up. Around the eight-minute mark of the second quarter, my wife texted from the bedroom to ask for help removing a splinter from her foot. Since she’ll never read this: I absolutely considered pretending to miss the message because the game was so good. Luckily, Mitch Johnson called a challenge timeout that allowed me to fulfill my husbandly duties.
Later, Jen texted that she was now streaming the game on her laptop because “everyone is talking about the game.” Hence, down the stretch, I was shouting in the living room, she was shouting from the bedroom, and our house must have sounded bananas from the sidewalk. I imagine things were equally wild at La Casa de Wilco. Let’s hope for more of the same great basketball in Game Two. Good luck to you (but Go Knicks, obviously).
SAN ANTONIO, TX - JUNE 3: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks handles the ball during the game against the San Antonio Spurs during Game One of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 3, 2026 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE(Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
A funny thing happens when your team gets eliminated from the playoffs. For a few days you’re angry. Then you’re depressed. Then you start convincing yourself that next year will be different. Then the offseason rumor mill starts churning, and suddenly you’re arguing about hypothetical trades involving players who may or may not even be available. But before all of that takes over completely, there is still basketball to be played, and for Timberwolves fans, that basketball now comes with a clear rooting interest.
The New York Knicks marched into San Antonio and stole Game 1 of the NBA Finals, putting Karl-Anthony Towns just three wins away from capturing the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
For nearly a decade, Towns carried the weight of a franchise that was often wandering through the wilderness. Now, two seasons removed from the blockbuster trade that sent him to New York, he finds himself on the doorstep of basketball immortality.
If you’re a Timberwolves fan, you should be cheering for him. You’d have to be a particularly bitter person not to. For all the frustrations that occasionally accompanied Towns’ tenure in Minnesota, he gave this franchise everything he had. He showed up. He played through difficult circumstances. He helped bridge the gap between the dark years and the emergence of Anthony Edwards.
So when Wolves fans see him standing three wins away from a championship, the reaction isn’t jealousy. It’s pride.
That doesn’t mean anybody should start engraving the trophy yet. If the Timberwolves taught us anything a few weeks ago, it’s that winning Game 1 in San Antonio guarantees absolutely nothing. The record books tell us that the winner of Game 1 goes on to win the series roughly 70 percent of the time. That’s an impressive number. It’s also the kind of statistic that gets thrown around confidently until reality punches it in the face.
Minnesota walked into San Antonio during the Western Conference Semifinals and stole Game 1 from the Spurs. Wolves fans were feeling pretty good. The team had weathered injuries. Anthony Edwards had made his miraculous return. San Antonio looked vulnerable. Suddenly everybody was talking about how the Wolves had taken home-court advantage.
Then Game 2 happened. The Wolves treated that second game like they were playing with house money. San Antonio responded by blowing the doors off them. The lesson was simple: Winning Game 1 isn’t the accomplishment. Protecting the advantage is.
That’s why Game 2 feels so massive for New York. If the Knicks can somehow pull off the Texas two-step and leave San Antonio with both games in hand, the entire complexion of the series changes. Suddenly the Spurs find themselves staring at a 2-0 deficit heading into Madison Square Garden, one of the loudest and most chaotic environments in basketball when things are going well.
At that point, New York would be firmly in control. Not champions, not even close. But firmly in control.
The challenge, of course, is that Victor Wembanyama rarely stays down for long. One of the recurring themes throughout the series with the Wolves and Thunder was how quickly Wembanyama adjusted. There would be games where he looked slightly uncomfortable. There would be stretches where defenses bothered him. Then he’d spend 48 hours making adjustments and return looking like a basketball-playing extraterrestrial sent to punish mankind for its arrogance.
Game 1 of the Finals felt familiar. Wembanyama wasn’t quite himself.
The rhythm, the dominance, and the overwhelming sense of inevitability wasn’t there. History suggests that won’t last. Great players adjust. Superstars adjust faster, and Wembanyama increasingly looks like the type of player who solves problems overnight.
That’s why Towns becomes such a fascinating figure in this series. The Knicks need him to be the version of Karl-Anthony Towns that Wolves fans spent years dreaming about. The disciplined version that avoids silly fouls and stays on the floor. The version that uses his skill and size to create problems. If Towns can continue making his presence felt inside while forcing Wembanyama to work on the other end, suddenly New York has a pathway to pulling this off.
That’s what makes this series so compelling. The Knicks have been red hot and look like a team that genuinely believes it’s destined to finish the job. Meanwhile, San Antonio still has the most terrifying player in the sport and the type of roster that can make you feel foolish for doubting them.
It feels like we’re headed toward something special. Maybe it’s six games. Maybe it’s seven. Maybe it’s one of those Finals that gets remembered for years because of the stars involved, the momentum swings, the iconic moments and the pressure that comes with chasing a championship.
Whatever happens, Game 1 already accomplished one thing. It reminded everyone that San Antonio is beatable. The Knicks proved it. Now comes the hard part. Can they do it again?
Can they avoid the mistake Minnesota made? Can they leave Texas with both games? Because if they can, suddenly Karl-Anthony Towns won’t be three wins away anymore. He’ll be standing on the edge of a championship with Madison Square Garden waiting to carry him the rest of the way.
For Wolves fans, that would be a pretty cool sight. We never get to be the bride around here. Most years we aren’t even the bridesmaid. But seeing one of the greatest players in franchise history get his moment? That’s something worth rooting for.
The Canis faithful will be watching, and most of Wolves Nation is probably saying the same thing:
Jac Caglianone
James Wood
Alec Burleson
COVERS INTEL: Scott ranks in the fifth percentile in ground ball rate, while 
